Scoble, Microsoft's most famous blogger, comments on a NYTimes article about companies taking a stance against employees-bloggers:"There's lots of companies that don't allow blogging, the New York Times reports today.
That's cool. I hope none of my competitors allow their employees to blog. Why? You'd be amazed at the number of job seekers we get simply because we blog openly...
In many companies blogging ANYTHING is a fireable offense. I’ve talked with many HR and PR teams and they can’t believe that we’re allowed to do what we’re doing at Microsoft."
Michigan University recently launched 12 blogs by medical students in effort to increase recruitement.
Work blogging, if done right, can offer a competitive advantage to many companies. It gives a human face to a corporation and it also brings a lot of Google traffic that you otherwise have to pay for through AdWords.
In today's world, Microsoft's "chief blogger" has almost as much power as the CEO. Banning blogging is a disadvantage, to say the least.
Fortunately, at the Cleveland Clinic, we do not stop any employee from writing his/her own blog. Of course, you must have the usual disclaimer: "All opinions expressed here are those of their authors and not of their employer" (see the sidebar of this blog). Protecting patient confidentiality, as described in HIPAA, is also extremely important.
All hospitals should have blogging guidelines.
References:
Interns? No Bloggers Need Apply. NYTimes.
No work blogging allowed at many co’s, NYT says. Scobleizer.
Medical Students Blogging on a "Massive Scale" at the University of Michigan
Microsoft Blogger Has as Much PR Power as CEO. What Does That Mean for Your Hospital?
Case Reports and HIPAA Rules
Simply Fired - How NOT to Blog About Your Job. Especially If You Are a Doctor
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